PUMICE LANDS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 13, 16 January 1930, Page 15

PUMICE LANDS

SUITABLE FOR SETTLEMENT

AN IMPOETANT PRONOUNCEMENT

Just before Christmas a party of eight of the most prominent farmers of the Waikato made a two days' in-! spcetion of the pumice country at the invitation of tbe Eotorua Taupo Eailway League. Some had previous knowledge of. the area. These were greatly pleased with the progress made. To others it was new, and to them the results of the small amount of work already done was a complete revelation. All classes of farms and settlers were visited, and all opinions considered. The party was delighted and returned convinced that the country is eminently suited for agricultural development. The following is their signed statement:—

"We have inspected a great part of the pumice area, and have been most agreeably surprised, having seen paddocks equal to anything in tho Waikato at a similar stage of development. We have visited the farms of Messrs. Axexander, Friis, and Seacombe on Eeporoa, and traversed the settlement in all directions on the roads; we have also visited "Strathniore," "Broadlands, '' Waiotapu,' and Wairakei, and the Guthrie Settlement. The result is that we have formed the following decided opinions:— , "(1) That this country comprises by far the largest area of land available in New Zealand for improvement and settlement in small areas. -

"(2) That tho land can readily bo brought into good pasture by modern methods and manuring at a very moderate cost and in a remarkably short time and is eminently suitable for dairying. "(3) That for successful settlement a railway is absolutely necessary. "Wo therefore strongly urge the immediate resumption of tho construction of the Eotorua-Taupo railway as a national work of the first importance. Joseph Barugh. Daniel V. Bryant. Dynes Fulton, J.P. Eobert J. Glasgow. F. B. Hughes, J.P. J. E. Makgill. C. J. Parlane. Stewart Eeid. Mr. J. Barugh has been chairman of directors of the Farmers' Co-operative Auctioneering Company for fifteen years, chairman of directors of tho Auckland Farmers' Freezing Co. eleven years, and is one of the best-known fanners in the Waikato. Mr. D. V. Bryant is the founder and honoraiy manager of Bryant Homea for which upwards of 300 cows arc boing milked. Mr. Dynes Fulton, J.P., is chairman of directors of the N.Z. Co-operative Dairy Company. Mr. E. J. Glasgow ia- a director of N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. Mr. F. E. Hughes, J.P., is a director of N.Z. Co-op, Dairy Co. and chairman of Hunga Hunga Drainage Board. Mr. J. E. Makgill is chairman Auckland Farmers Freezing Co., and has j been farming at Waiuku since a lad, and iu'the Waikato for the last 22 years. Mr. C. J. Parlane is general manager of N.Z. Co-op. Dairy Co. Mr. S. Reid, lato M.P. for Waikato, is a director of Farmers' Co-op Auctioneering Co.